Chaeles paeris



(No Model.)

O. PARKIS.

SLEIGH. No. 875,767. Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PARKIS, on BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,767, dated January 3, 1683.

Application filed October 26, 1887. Serial No. 253,394. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES PARKIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in sleighs, whereby the sleigh is made stronger and more durable and the horse may be hitched sufficiently close to the front of the sleigh to cause the mud and dirt to be thrown under it instead of being scattered about on the outside or over the person of the driver.

My invention relates, further, to an adj ustable device whereby a team of horses may be secured to it at any point as near toor far from the front of the sleigh as may be desired, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through line a b, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 represents a plan or top view of one of the adjusting devices and a portion of thciron bar to which it is attached.

The supporting curved cross braces 1 2 are secured to the runners 3 in the usual way and to the top by braces 4, 5, 6, and 7 and the usual cross'braces, 8 9, all securely bolted to the frame-work and runners, and by clips 10 to the braces 4 and 6. At the front of the sleigh is secured a curved brace, 11, fastened by bolts to the top framework, (shown in Fig. 2,) which curved brace 11 and all the cross-braces are secured together at the center by bolts 12 and 13[ (Shown in Fig. 2.) Each of the arched braces 1 and 2is strengthened by an inlaid brace of steel or iron, 14. (Shown in Fig. 3.) This brace is let down into the curved wooden brace so as to be even with the surface, and is securely bolted thereto by bolts 15.

To the rear curved brace, 1, (which has the greater portion of theload to bear,) is attached an X-shaped brace, 16, all made in one solid piece, the part 17, where they cross each other, being welded solid. This brace is secured to the top by nuts 18 (see Fig. 3) and to the runners by bolts 19. This construction gives great strength and lightness to the sleigh, and the curved brace 11 leaves room for a single horse to be hitched up closeto the sleigh to the portions 20, so that the mud and dirt are thrown under instead of above the sleigh. Vhen a team of horses is used, the pole is secured to the horizontally-adjustable portion 21. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 4.) They are secured so as to slide along and be adjusted on the bars 22. It will be noticed that the under portions of the bars 22 are provided with semicircular notches 23, which notches coincide exactly with the holes 24: in the adjustable piece 21, so that by passing an ordinary bolt through the hole when opposite either of the notches 23 and securing it with a nut the parts 21 (to which the pole is attached) may be adjusted either forward or back. It will be understood that there are two of the adjustable fastening-pieces 21 and bars upon which they are adj usted-one on each side of the sleigh-and both are exactly alike. These bars 22 are provided with an extension made in the form of a scraper for the feet, 25,- all formed in one piece with the rest, and are prcvided with an upward bend, 26, and secured to the sleigh by bolts 27 and 28 and to the vertical braces by clips 29. (See Fig. 1.) By this means a team of horses may be readily secured as near up to the sleigh or as far from it as may be required.

I claim as myinvention- 1. The combination of the runners and top frame-work with two curved or arched braces, 1 and 2, provided with inlaid curved metal braces 11, secured thereto by bolts, and an X-shaped brace, 16, secured at the top to the arched brace 1 and to the runners, substantially as described.

2. The horizontal notched bars 22, having their front ends secured to the front of the sleigh by bolts and their rear portions made in the form of a foot-scraper and secured by bolts and clips to the frame of the sleigh, in combination with the sliding portions 21, having holes 24, coinciding with the notches, substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.

OH ARLES PARKIS.

Witnesses:

HARRIET JoHNsoN, JAMns SANGSTER. 

